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(Reuters) - Russia's parliament backed a draft law on Friday banning "homosexual propaganda" in what critics see as an attempt to shore up support for President Vladimir Putin in the country's largely conservative society.

Only one deputy in the State Duma lower house voted against the bill, but passions spilled over outside the chamber, where 20 people were detained after scuffles between Russian Orthodox Christians and gay activists who staged a "kiss-in" protest.

"We live in Russia, not Sodom and Gomorrah," United Russia deputy Dmitry Sablin said before the 388-1 vote in the 450-seat chamber. Sablin said Russia is an old country "founded on its own traditional values - the protection of which is dearer to me than even oil and gas."

Veteran human rights campaigner Lyudmila Alexeyeva described the draft law as "medieval" and said it was intended to appeal to conservative voters after months of protests that have sapped Putin's popularity.

"It (the Duma) is relying on the ignorance of people who think homosexuality is some sort of distortion," she said.

The legislation has served to deepen divisions in society since Putin returned to the presidency in May and began moves seen by the opposition as designed to crack down on dissent and smother civil society.

How odd, the silence coming from our own socialist/communist/ progressive/ liberals(did I miss any deviants?) is almost deafening.

Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness;Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyesAnd clever in their own sight! Isaiah 5:20-21 NASB

Russia has never known freedom in any form (under czars, communism, or current day).

I feel like singing God Bless the USA right now.

You would be better off singing the Russian national anthem because,you are trying to change us into Russia.

Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness;Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyesAnd clever in their own sight! Isaiah 5:20-21 NASB

You would be better off singing the Russian national anthem because,you are trying to change us into Russia.

And by the way, you're very insulting. To compare us to them is insulting to them.

People were murdered for being rich in Russia. Farmers died because the factory workers were considered to be superior. Religion was outlawed.

We have freedom of religion, speech, to sell our goods, to own land. A few changes that make you and others throw a temper tandrum like a two year old child doesn't change that. I guess I can expect that fit throwing for the next four years.

I'll be glad when this is all over so the country can look back and realize how childish this all was.

Not that I want Russia, but I'd love to live in a country where people didn't constantly hate on each other over politics.

And by the way, you're very insulting. To compare us to them is insulting to them.

People were murdered for being rich in Russia. Farmers died because the factory workers were considered to be superior. Religion was outlawed.

We have freedom of religion, speech, to sell our goods, to own land. A few changes that make you and others throw a temper tandrum like a two year old child doesn't change that. I guess I can expect that fit throwing for the next four years.

I'll be glad when this is all over so the country can look back and realize how childish this all was.

Not that I want Russia, but I'd love to live in a country where people didn't constantly hate on each other over politics.

If you and your kind are allowed to continue on the path you are on we will have none of these freedoms.

Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness;Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyesAnd clever in their own sight! Isaiah 5:20-21 NASB

And by the way, you're very insulting. To compare us to them is insulting to them.

People were murdered for being rich in Russia. Farmers died because the factory workers were considered to be superior. Religion was outlawed.

We have freedom of religion, speech, to sell our goods, to own land. A few changes that make you and others throw a temper tandrum like a two year old child doesn't change that. I guess I can expect that fit throwing for the next four years.

I'll be glad when this is all over so the country can look back and realize how childish this all was.

Not that I want Russia, but I'd love to live in a country where people didn't constantly hate on each other over politics.

Unless a person has their eyes closed they would notice that our rights are slowy being stripped from us, that is how it all starts.